Local hero Andy Booth scored with a trademark far post header to cancel out Crewe's disputed opening goal and earn Hudderfield Town a hard won point.
Booth rose above a crowd of players to nod in a Kenny Irons free-kick after 26 minutes awarded after Dave Brammer had fouled Steve Jenkins on the edge of the box.
The strike cancelled out Rob Hulse's goal after 17 minutes which had a strong suspicion of offside.
Hulse lobbed Town keeper Scott Bevan after latching on to Kenny Lunt's pass but the striker appeared to be several yards in front of the home back line.
Huddersfield dominated the possession in the early stages but created little while Crewe attacked purposefully on the break.
Ben Rix threaded a superb ball through to striker Dean Ashton after 12 minutes. The home-grown teenager beat Terriers captain Jenkins and struck a fierce shot which was parried by Bevan diving low to his right. The ball came straight back to Ashton but he carelessly blasted the rebound wide of the empty net.
Town's best chance came seconds before the interval when John Thorrington's driven across was headed down by Booth for Jenkins to head goalwards only for Crewe keeper Clayton Ince to produce a fine save.
After the break the Terriers continued to dominate, winning a succession of corners which produced little of note. Crewe still looked dangerous on the break and should have punished slack defending after 65 minutes.
Brammer played Ashton in behind defender Kevin Sharp and the striker, who has played for England Under-19s, romped goalwards and fired a cross shot which Hulse just failed to connect with at the far post.
Town had two penalty appeals waived away. Nigerian World Cup star Efe Sodje appeared to handle a Thorrington cross in the six yard area after 57 minutes and was at it again in stoppage time when he looked to handle a Sharp cross.
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